Interlocking and door-operating device for elevators.



EVMQRS NERLOC E. L. DUNN.

INTERLOCKING AND' DOOR OPERATING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. Il 19H.

1 ,232,903. Patented .my 10, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. L. DUNN.

lNTERLDCKlNG AND DOOR OPERATING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. l l. 1914.

1,232,903. Patented my 10, 1917.

6 `SI'IEETS--SHEIET 3.

v [Il E, L. DUNN.

INTERLOCKING AND DOOR OPERATING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED sum1, 1914.l

1,232,903. Patented July 10, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4..

E. L. DUNN.

INTERLOCKING AND [IGOR OPERATING DE'VICE FOR ELEVATORS.l

Ann'acmn man SEPT. 1|, |914.

Patented July 10, 1917.

Jar/ax 773// lflr/r: Puna.

E. L. DUNN.

INTERLOCKING AND noo OPERATING'DEVICE Foa ELEvAToRs.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11| |914.

Patented July 10, 1917.

EDWARD L. DUNN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

INTERLOCKING AND DOOR-OPERATING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS'.

specmcation of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 11, 1914.-` Serial No. 861,259.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. DUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Interlocking and Door-Operating Device for Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

AThe main purpose of this invention, in the case of'elevators, is to provide means for controlling the-car door as well as the landing door, and prevent movement of the car while any door is open, likewise to prevent movement of any 0f the doors while the car is in motion.

Thisinvention is a distinct improvement in this art because it compels the closing of the elevator car door as well as the landing door before the cai' can be' started. Also the same device with two handles controls the operation of all doors as well as operating the car, and it is not, therefore, necessary for the doors to be moved by hand in the usual manner or by power in the usual manner.

I provide a device located within the car, having two' crank handles arranged in such a manner that when one handle is moved, the other is securely locked against movement. One handle manipulates a switch, which is capable of giving all necessary motions to the car; the other vhandle manipulates' the doors. I have shown two ways in which the doors can be manipulated, one being hand operation, that is, the doors are connected to a crank by suitable gearing and when the crank is turned, the doors move correspondingly. The other way in which the doors are moved is by power; that is; the doors are moved by a motor, and the crank, instead of being mechanically connected to the doors, manipulates a switch which governs the motor. The motor, however, is provided with an automatic stopping provision as the door completes its opening or closing movement.

Further features ofthe invention are z- Improved electric interlocks operated by the car operating switch and door switches;

v Improved door connections both mechanical and magnetic;

Improved variable speed means for cushioning the opening and closing movements of the doors; i

Improved seh-closing and locking means for the doors.

Patented July 10. 1917.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawingain whichi Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the form of the inventionin which the door is hand-operated and showing the interiorbf the controller; i

-ig. 2 isa side velevation of the door operating mechanism thereof with the controller and a vpart of the door operating means in central vertical section transverse lto Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the interlocking mechanism on enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 ofv Fig. 3; v

Fig. 5 is a. front elevation of part of the controlling device Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the car and well showing the car door and landing door and the connections between them;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the same showing the parts in two positions;

Fig. l8 is an elevation of the car door showing the connections for operating it in two positions corresponding to Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan on enlarged scale showing the mechanical connection between the car and landing doors;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the same on enlarged scale;

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the parts modified to provide a magnetic connection instead of a mechanical one;

Fig. 12 'is a plan f the parts shown in Fig. 11 with the magnet in section;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation with parts in central vertical section of acontrolling device similar to that shown in Fig. 2 but ar'- i'a-iiged for the operation of the door by power;

Fig. 14 is a i'ear view of the same showing the controller in rear elevation Fig. 15 is a side elevation of one of t-lie switches appearing in F ig. 14;

Fig. 1G is an elevation similar to Fig. 1l showing one interlocking device on enlarged scale.;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view on the line 17-17 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 1S lis a central longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the niotor and brake and their connections;

Fie'. 19 is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring for the construction shown in Figs. 13 to 18 inclusive;

Fig. 20 is a front elevation of a controlling device and door connections for use in a. hydraulic elevator; and

Fig. Q1 is a side elevation of the same.

Referring first to Fig. 1 a complete car switch is shown having all necessary contacts for controlling an elevator motor by means of a magnetic controller. These contacts I have labeled A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, and

A, AT, AS, A9, A10. They operate in the usual manner, that is, when the insulated contacter C is moved to engage one set of contact fingers, the elevator starts and moves in one direction, and when the contacter C is moved in the reverse direction from center to engage the contact fingers the elevator starts and moves in the reverse direction. It will be noted that the contacter C is directly connected t-o the operating crank handle A through a shaft a and is provided with a self-centering spring D, which will return the lever A and contacter C to central position' when reversed, causing it to lock at the notch E.

A slotted flange F is arranged on the shaft a to pass through a similar slotted flange G, on a shaft I at right angles to the shaft a. These flanges thus being at right angles to each other, it can be readily seen that if the position of either of these flanges is moved, even a. slight part of a. revolution, the other flange is locked against movement. The door handle B is connected through bevel gearing J to the door operating shaft Il. One of the bevel gears J is directly connected to the shaft I and flange G. Therefore. when the handle B is turned, the shaft H is revolved, and the car switch is locked by means of the flange G.

The shaft H passes through the car floor and is connected with bevel gears K and L. On the same shaft with the gear L is an eccentric gear M, this engaging with a rack N. It will be noted that the rack 1s part of a yoke N which goes around the gear M, for the purpose of keeping the teeth always in mesh. lVhen the shaft H is revolved, a differential movement is imparted to the rack N. In other words, t-he rack starts slowly at the beginning of stroke and stops slowly at the end of stroke. As this yoke is connected to the swinging arm O, which is attached to the door, the door is started slowly and stopped slowly, on account of the mechanical cushioning effect of the eccentric gear M. It is well to note here that while one car door only is shown, multiple doors, that is two or more doors, could be very conveniently arranged to Work as well as one.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, door connections of the Russwin form are shown in detail, the swinging arm O being pivoted near the car floor and connected to the front part of the car door by a lever P. At the end of this lever, a projecting lug R is provided, this passing through a slot S, which forms, part of the landing door connections.

The landing door is provided with toggle connections T and U which are set at dead center when the door is closed, therefore, the door is locked against movement from the outside.' An additional lever V is provided with a slotted end S, also a slotted connection to the cross lever T. The lever U, at the rear end, is connected to a spring actuated dash pot W. The door movement takes place as follows:

When the car stops approximately level with the landing, projection R on the car door passes into the'slot S which is part of the landing door lever V. lVhen the car door is moved slightly, the lug R engaging one side of the slot S, swings the lever V to the right, with the result that theV toggle levers T and U rise upward, overcoming the spring in the dash pot lV. It can be noted at this stage, that with the movement ofthe door, the car operating switch is securely locked. lVhen the car door is returned to a closed position, the landing door continues to move slightly, on account of the spring in the dash pot 1V, thus leaving the projecting lug- R in the center of the slot S and not against one side. Therefore, as the car passes up and down the hatch, there is no scraping contact at the landing door slots. Although I have shown the Russwin door controller, it will be understood that my invention can be used with many other forms of door contuoller and that the latter is not my inventionb, It should be noted that in addition to the mechanical cushioning effect caused by the eccentric gear M, the dash pot IV also exerts a cushioning influence on the filial movement of the landing door, thus a double cushion is provided.

Another feature to take note of is the door` switch. When the landing door opens, the door switch button X being spring compressed, opens with the door. separating the contacts X1 and X2. A similar door switch could be provided for the car door. Instead of the slot and pin described in the foregoing, a magnetic connection between the car door and landing door can be used as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. In this case the car door is provided with a magnet Y. This magnet has a flanged face which engages a flanged plate or armature Y2, the magnet being connected by means of a flexible electric cable Y3 or other suitable electrical connection. The door magnet can receive this circuit only while the car operating switch is at off position. This circuit passes through contacts B1-C--B2- It will be noted that with the car switch only in central or ofi" position, the door magnet circuit is closed by these contact-s. proximately level, the magnet Y attracts the armature Y2, there 'being suflicient lost motion provided to allow the armature to swing into engagement with the magnet. The result is that as the car door is moved, the landing ldoor is moved in a similar manner, being magnetically connected to thecar door. This magnetic connection remains until the car switch is moved to start the car. Ifv the landing door ismot fully closed, the springl dash pot lV will completely close the door. A feature worthy of note is that the car must stop approximately level. in order to operate the landing door. In the meclmnical connections the slot regulates this: in the magnetic connections'the dimensions of the armature regulate the point atwhich the door can bemoved. f

In the foregoing I`have shown how the doors are opened and closed manually by means of the crank B. I have further shown how with the movement of this crank, the car is securely locked mechanically and electrically, against movement. I havev previously pointed out also that only with the handle B in an upright central position, can the car switch operating handle A be moved, and when handle A isk moved handle B is instantly locked against movement. Therefore, the handle A. which operates the car can be moved only when handle B isin central position with the door closed: likewise the door operating handle Beanbe moved only when the handle 'A is in off or central position.

Referring now to Figs. 13 to 17; I will-de# scribe how the door can be operated by a power motor, instead of by hand. The locking connections F and G are the same as the hand operated arrangement. the main difference being that the shaft connecting the bevel gear L and eccentric'gear M is extended to the. left and is'directly connected to a worm gear Z which is in turn connected to the motor shaftthrough a worm Z1. The switch lever'handle A lis shown 'with the handle reversed. and instead of the handle B. I have shown a switch lever handle B3, this being provided with metallic contaetors B4. Bt". and arranged to engagecontacts B, B7. B*- Bf. or B10. B11. B12 and B13. Therefore. if the handle kB3 is moved to the right or left. suitable connections are made to the power motor. It will be noted that when the motor is in motion` in addition to moving the door by means of eccentric gear M. the shaft H is revolved the same as in hand operation. thus serving two purposes: first. to lock the car operating handle against movement while the door is open even if the, door controlling handle B3 has been moved back to neutral position: and second. to automatically open the sw1tch B14 or B1" as.

the case may be. The opening of this switch Therefore, when the car stops ap.

automatically stops movement of the motor as the door reaches open' orclos'ed position. These switches are caused to open by cams C1 or C. The two cams yC1 and C2, being attached-at clite`i'ei`it-angles, to the same shaft as the bevel gear J, necessarily move with rthe gear and with the shaft H. Then the door is either closed or fully open one cam allows its switch to close. At the en'd'of. the next opening or closing motion the switch that has been closed is opened and the other closes. so that the door can be moved back. -The time of opening each switch is necessarily regulated by the posi tion ofthe cam on the shaft, set screws being provided for this purpose. The shaftturning less than one full revolution, it is simply a matter of setting each cam in the right position to open the switch at the right time.

Interlocking connections between the car ope `ating handle A and the door operating handle B3 are arranged, so that only one of thev two mentioned handles can be fir adapted to interlock with the flange vF.

This interlock directly prevents the operation of either handle Aol B3 except when the other is in neutral position.

Fig. 19 shows all circuits 'complete for a compound wound direct -current motor. A motor of this type is shown for the purpose` of description. although I do not limit my selfy to this type of motor, or. in fact, any other. las there are many ways in which good results could ybe obtained by other types of motors. Fig. 1S shows a magnetic brake Z3. this being in series Acircuit with the series field of the' motor` arranged ,to act antomatieally .with jthe starting and stopping of the motor. Thus when the series circuit currentpasses through the brake'magnet. the armature Z* is attachedtothemagnet.over# coming the springs Z` 'releasing the frictionbetween the disks Z4. '1". 'hen the motor circuit is interrupted. the springs Z throwfthe armature plate AZ4 into frictional engagement with revolving plate causmg the motor to stop quickly. There a motor is frequently started. it is desirable to keep theshunt field energized. vIn diagram, Fig. 19. I have. therefore. shown a shunt field in continuous lcircuit from the line switch, I will now describe these circuits flllb'- i tartingatV the plus side of line through wire 1 a circuit can be `traced through the shunt 4field to the opposite side of the line through a wire 2. Thecircuit from wire l branches through the series field and series brake to a contact BG. Then the switch lever B3 is moved to the right', the two contacts and B7 are bridged by B4. and contacts B"` and Bf' are bridged by Therefore. the circuitfrom series field passes through contacts B" and B7. through automatic switch B14. throughdii-mature to contacts Bq. B to minus side of line.

It should be noted that the automatic switch B1 is open. showing that when the doors are closed. this switch automatically opens. and the motor circuit can be closed to operate only in the opening direction. As the motor starts. the automatic switch B15 closes with the result that the motor can be started. stopped or reversed at will. except when the door is at the end of its movement in one direction or the other. 'ith the door open` automatic contact B1r would be closed, while BH would be open. and to close the door. it would be necessary to reverse the motor b v moving the switch B3 in the reversey direction. the. circuits being the same as above described. except they would take place through contacts B10. B11. B12 and B13. which would reverse the armature current. As the door motor circuits have now been described, I will point out that the feed to the car switch which supplies current for operating the elevator controller passes through the door switches; these I have, labeled D1. D2. D3. D4. and D, the last one being attached to thecar door. This line continues to the principal contacts A1 A in the car switch. and the result is that if any ot' the landing doors. or the car door is open. the car cannot be moved for lack of starting energy. and is. therefore. electrically prevented from starting as well as mechanically interlocked.

I will not describe further the elevator controller circuits. as they form no part of this invention. passes through the door switches and I have also shown a sufficient number of contacts in Fig. 1. which were labeled A1. A2. A3. A4. A5. and A, AT. A, A and A10. these all being mounted upon a base of insulation and are tor the purpose of connection to the elevator controller.

The door magnet circuit can be traced from the plus side of the line through car switch contacts B1. B2. through the door magnet to the minus side of the line: obviously the door magnet is energized only when the 'ar switch is in ott or central position.

It will be understood that only a part of this diagram applies to the form of the invention shown on the-first sheet of drawings.

In the foregoing I have described conditions in connection with electrically operated elevators, that is to say, I have shown and described car switches, etc.. capable of use in connection with electrically operated elevators.

I have shown that the feed.

In Figs. .20 and E21. I have shown apparatus capable of use in connection with a hydraulic elevator in accordance with this invention. IVhile the construction is different, the principle is exactly the same. two levers being shown. one. the central lever 20, being equivalent to the controller lever A, the elevator moving in response to this lever. The other lever 2l. shown at the end otl the quadrant is likewise equivalent to the lever B. as it is connected to the door swinging arm 0 by means of the link 22.

The, interlocking devices are practically the same as previously described. the sector :23 being attached to the lever 20. moves with it. Therefore. when the lever '20 is moved the slot shown in 23 is moved, thus preventing movement of the swinging arm O. on account of the lug 24 which is pivoted the same as the swinging arm 0. and consequently moves with it and must have a free passage through the slot as the swinging arm moves to and fro. 0n the other hand, when the swinging arm O is moved and the door is opened. the lug Q-i enters the slot in the sector Q3. thus locking the lever 2O against movement.

I will not show electrical circuits for op- .erating the power door. in connection with Figs. Q0 and Q1. as it is clearly obvious to those skilled in the art. that the arrangement would be similar to that which I have outlined previously.

Although I have shown and described the invention as applied only to certain kinds of elevators. I am aware of the fact that my invention could be applied to other devices and other kinds of elevators. and many changes can be made in the mechanical and electrical connections. without departing from the scope ot` the invention as expressed in the claims. therefore I do not wish to be limited in these respects. but what I do claim is:-

1. The combination with a car having a door. a motor controller thereon. a door controller on said car, said door controller having means for controlling the operation of the car door. means whereby neither one of said controllers can be operated unless the other is in neutral or off position. a door magnet. and means on said motor controller for connecting said door magnet with a source of power only when the motor controller is in neutral position.

2. The combination with a car having a door. of a handle in the rar. connections from the handle for operating the car door. a second handle in the car, connections from the second handle for controlling the oper; tion of the car. two shafts, one connected with each of said handles to be turned thereby, and means on each of said handles for interlocking with said means on the other shaft for preventing each shaft from turning at any time exceptwvhen the other shaft is in neutral or inoperative position.

3.`The combination with a` car having a door, of two handles in the carin a'linement with each other when in neutral position,

connections from one handle for operating the door, connections from the other handle lfor controlling the operation' of the car 'and two flat disks atright angles toveach other,

one connected to be turned on its' axis by one handle, and theother by the other, each disk having a slot in its fiat edge for the edge of the other, said disks being so set that said slots register when one handleisin position to close the door, and the other in position to stop the operation of the car.

et; The combination with a car and a door therefor, of a box, two handles pivoted thereon, means connected with one handle. for operating the car door, means connected f with-the other handle for controlling the operation of the car, a shaft connected to be operated from one,- of saidhandlesand having a disk thereon provided'with a notch,"

y such a way that they are'in neutral position when the notches register, thesecond-shaft .being connected with the door.

5. The combination with a car and a door therefor, of a box, two handles pivoted thereon, means connected with one handle for controlling the operation of the car,l a shaft connected to be operated from one of said handles and having a disk thereon provided wit-h a notch, and a second shaft connected to be operated from the other vhandle andha-ving means thereon adapted to enter said notch and to engage a face of said disk when Athe disk is turned to nonregistering position, said handles being connected with the disk and means insuch a way that they are in neutral position when the means and notch register.

6. The combination with a car and a door therefor, of a vertical shaft extending down through the floor of 'the car, means connected with said shaft Vfor operating the door and for slowing up the same at each end of the travelthereof, means in the car for controlling thevoperation of the car, and means positively connected with said shaft for preventing the operation of said means to start the car when the door is open.

7 The combination with a car and a controller box therein, of a handle on the box for controlling the operation' of the car, yielding means for holding said handle in neutral inoperative position, a shaft, means ydoor therefor, of a shaft extending down -forioperating the door and slowing up its motion at .each end of its stroke, and means connected with and operated by said shaft for operating the door, a handle on the controller box having connections for controlling the operation of said shaft, and means lwhereby when one of said handles is in operative position it prevents the other handle from being moved away from neutral inoperative position.

' 8. The combination with a car and a door therefor, of a shaft extending down through the floor of the car, means connected'with said shaft for operating the door, means in the car for controlling the operation of the car, and means positively connected with said shaft for preventing the operation of said means to start the car when the door is open. y'9. The combination with a' car and a door therefor, of a shaft extending down through the floorof the car, means connected with said shaft for operating the door,'a crank in the car for controlling the operation of the car, means connected with said shaft for preventing the operation of the crank to start the car when the door is open, and means connected with the crank for positively preventingA the operation of said shaft to open the door when the car is in motion. vr10. The combination with a car and a door therefor, of a shaft extendingdown through the ioor of the car, an eccentric gear connected with said shaft to turn therewith, a rack meshing with the gear, means connected with the'rack and with the door for 'operating the door, means for operating said shaft and gear, a crank for controlling the motion of the cai',`an d means positively operated by said shaft for locking said crank when the shaft is in such position as to openthe door.

11. The combination with a car and a through the floor of the car, an eccentric gear connected with said shaft to turn therewith, a rack meshing with the gear, means connected with the rack and with the door for operating' said shaft and gear. y 12. The combination with a car and a door therefor, of an eccentric gear, a rack meshing with the gear, means connected with the rack and with the door for operating the door and slowing up its motion at each end ofitsvstroke, and means for operating said gear. v

- 1.3. The combination with a car and a door 12a therefor, of a shaft extending down througln the bottom of the car, a transverse shaft under the car connected with said shaft, an eccentric circular gear mounted on the trans- -verse shaft, and a rack meshing with said gear andconnected with the car doorfor operating it. n

14. The combination with a car and a door therefor, of a shaft extending down through the bottom of the car, a transverse shaft under `the car connected with said shaft, an eccentric circular gear fixed on the transverse shaft, and a rack meshing with said gear and connected with the car door for operating it, said rack being provided with a yoke, the rack teeth being on the inside of one leg of the yoke, whereby the remainder ot' the yoke serves to guide the yoke with respect to the eccentric gear and keep the teeth in mesh.

15. The combination with a car and a oor therefor.l of a controller box, a crank :ndle on the controller box, means connectr-f' with the handle for controlling the opmation ot' the door, said means comprising a shaft under the car, an eccentric circular gear fixed on the shaft, and a rack meshing with said gear and connected with the car door for operating it, said rack being providedl with a yoke, the rack teeth being on the inside of one leg of the yoke', whereby the remainder of the yoke serves togguide the yoke with respect to the eccentric gear and keep the teeth in mesh.

16. The combination with a car and a door therefor, of a controller box, a crank handle on the controller box, means connected with the handle for controlling the operation of the door, said means comprising a shaft extending down through the bottom of the car, a transverse shaft under the car connected with said shaft, an eccentric circular gear mounted on the transverse shaft, and a rack meshing with said gear and connected with the car door for operating it.

17. The combination with acar and a door therefor, of a controller box, a crank handle on the controller box, means connected with said crank handle for controlling the operation of the car, a second handle on the controller box. means connected with the second handle for controlling the operation of the door, said means comprising a shaft extending down through the bottom of the car, a transverse shaft under the car connected with said shaft, an eccentric circular gear fixed on thetransverse shaft, and a rack meshing with said gear and connected with the car door for operating it, said rack being provided with a- ,foke, the rack teeth being on tle inside ot' one leg of the yoke, whereby the remainder of the yoke serves to guide the yoke with respect to the eccentric gear and keep the teeth in mesh, and means for preventing each handle from being moved except when the other is in neutral position.

18. The combination with a car having a door thereon, of a landing door, an electromagnet located on one of said doors, and a metallic member on the other, said magnet and member being in registration with each other when the doors are in registration, and means for energizing said magnet.

19. The combination with a car having a controller thereon for controlling the operation of the car, a car door, a landing door, an electromagnet located on one of said doors, a metallic projection located on the other in registration with the magnet when the two doors are in registration, and means operated by said controller for energizing.

said magnet when the controller is in neutral position.

20; The combination with a car having a door, a motor controller thereon, a door magnet having means for connecting the car door with a landing door and causing them to move together, said motor controller having means for connecting the door magnet with a source of power only when the motor controller is in neutral condition.

21. An elevator comprising in combination, a car having a door, a floor level door, and electric means for connecting said doors with each other w'hen the car arrives at a floor level.

InV testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD L. DUNN.

Witnesses:

ALBERT E. FAY, C. FoRREsT VVnssoN. 

